If Only in My Dreams...

Some would argue that it is too early for this kind of post and Christmas music should wait til after Thanksgiving. If it were any other year, I would agree.

But this year is different....


Myself, along with 7 others students Charleston will be spending Christmas in Asia. We won't be with our families, we won't get to see the joy on our relatives' faces, and we won't be chowing down on stuffing, turkey, and all the other foods that are consumed during the Holidays.

When I signed up for the trip, it really didn't bother me that I wasn't going to be here for Christmas. This past week, reality hit me. I won't be able to say Merry Christmas openly to others because where we will be going doesn't celebrate Christmas. I won't be with eating delicious home-cooked food with my family. I won't be able to participate in family traditions, such as the white elephant gift exchange. I will be gone.

Please don't get me wrong, I know God put this trip as a burden on my heart for a reason, and I know He is going ahead of me to plan great things for while we are there, but I'm still anxious. And I know that 7 other people feel the same way.

It's going to be tough, because it already is. But I am reminded of Philippians 3:12-14 which states,

 ¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I consider my loss of a Christmas with family such a privilege because I will be able to share the good news to those who would otherwise not be allowed to hear such a thing. I press on, even when its tough, because I know that my home is not of this Earth. I know that no matter what happens where I go, even the worst case scenario can't pull me from the hands of my Father. The place where I am going doesn't allow evangelizing, so this would be classified as a "dangerous" mission trip. Once we are there, we are not allowed to express any Christian ideas, thoughts, or words. If we are caught, we will be deported and banned from that place, but the locals we may be with will face worse consequences, with the worst case scenario being death.


  Am I scared? No. Anxious? A little, but not for myself but for others we are coming into contact with. You see, there is nothing any goverment on this earth can do to take away my love for Christ. So what if they imprison me? So what if they execute me? For me to live is Christ, to die is gain, as said by Paul.

Overall, the toughest part of this trip will definitely not being with my family during Christmas. But who knows, maybe I'll be home for Christmas...if only in my dreams.




Side Note: I am raising support for this trip. Its going to cost somewhere around $2800. I need your help! If you are interested in supporting me, please email me at harvey.reh@gmail. Your help is urgently needed and greatly appreciated.